I am an Actuary: March Edition

In this edition of ‘I am an Actuary’ we spotlight the journeys of seven young professionals who transformed curiosity into purpose within the actuarial profession.

From unexpected career test suggestions to international opportunities, these actuaries share their evolution from asking “What’s that?” to discovering how actuarial work extends far beyond numbers.

Effie Zhang

My approach to life has always been: “Let’s give it a try, and if it doesn’t work out, we’ll go to Plan B… and maybe Plan C, D, or E.”

Actuarial studies started as an experiment—something to explore and try, knowing I could pivot if it wasn’t the right fit.

Surprisingly, everything fell into place. I passed all my university subjects, secured all available exemptions and landed a job straight after completing my bachelor’s degree.

I joined Suncorp with the mindset of exploration —was this the career, this industry, this “Actuary” title, truly something I wanted? If not, could I return to further studies or take a completely different path? I soon found myself drawn to the dynamic and ever-evolving world of general insurance.

Over the past five years, I’ve been part of the Pricing Project team, working on initiatives beyond BAU pricing. I’ve delivered projects that introduce new products, enhance customer experience, upgrade systems and platforms, integrate banking data into the insurance domain, develop new pricing engines and improve risk selection across multiple brands. With every challenge, I think I’ve grown as a strategic thinker and business leader.

Today, I see our profession as more than just numbers—it’s about making an impact.

While passionate about technical problem-solving, I believe true impact comes from communication. My goal is to bridge the gap between analytics and business, making data-driven insights accessible and actionable.

The impact of actuarial work goes far beyond the profession itself. The insights we generate influence decisions that shape industries, protect businesses, and ultimately improve people’s lives. By combining technical expertise with strategic thinking, actuaries play a vital role in making the world a more secure and sustainable place.

As actuaries, we don’t just predict the future—we help shape it for the better.

Alyssa Dai

I first heard about the profession in Year 10, when “Actuary” was listed as a top career suggestion on my Morrisby Test—a personalised test that outlines potential career pathways.

A seed was secretly planted inside the 15-year-old me: “How great would it be if I could study actuarial science at university one day?”

During my first year of university, I had a chance to talk to someone working in the industry who had qualified as a Fellow only a few years after graduation. Listening to his glamorous stories, another seed was planted inside me: “How great would it be if I could become a fully qualified actuary one day?”

Fast forward a few years, and I worked as an actuarial consultant at EY, solving problems for clients while filling my remaining time with study. When I finally cleared all my exams after three years of “work-exam balance” and earned my two qualification titles, I thought, “Now I’ve made it. What comes next?”

I didn’t know the answer, but I knew I could be inspired by other intelligent actuaries. I was lucky enough to lead the Young Actuaries Program (YAP) in Victoria in 2024, where I met many talented and kind individuals.

Being part of a close-knit community with other like-minded actuaries, provided me with perspectives both personally and professionally. I learned that obtaining the FIAA title is just the beginning and your mind shouldn’t be restricted by boundaries—the world is filled with possibilities!

With that mindset, I began searching. One year later, I found myself in the US, starting a new chapter working in San Francisco, California. I realised it’s okay not to know your big goals. With a positive mindset and continuous searching, the answers will come to you before you know it.

Aniket Panesar

When I tell people that I work as an actuary, the usual response is a polite nod followed by:

“Oh nice! *long pause* Sorry, what’s that?”

My actuarial journey started when I asked that very question, “what’s that?”, to one of my family friends, who described it as a mix of “risk, statistics, economics, and a sprinkle of free time.”

As a high school student who was initially aspiring to be an engineer, this description piqued my curiosity.

What drew me into becoming an actuary was not the prospect of studying for six additional years after high school. Instead, it was the allure of a career that offered:

• The realisation that there isn’t a clear cookie-cutter solution to every problem.
• The opportunity to develop a skillset that would allow me to solve problems critically and effectively communicate ideas.

Fast forward a few years, and I secured a role at EY. This was a fantastic place to start my career, providing me with the opportunity to work on a variety of impactful projects over two years, including group & retail pricing, IFRS17 audits, and remediations.

To make an impact from a different perspective, I transitioned to Resolution Life and joined the IFRS17 Valuation team. I’m incredibly grateful for the environment which constantly challenges my way of thinking and allows me to learn and grow as an actuary every day.

Overall, whilst answering the question “what’s an actuary?” can be tricky, I believe that being an actuary is not just about dealing with numbers. It’s about understanding the stakeholders around us, identifying risks, making informed decisions and communicating complex ideas in a simple manner.

It’s a challenging profession that beautifully blends knowledge, intuition and communication in an equal measure. And that’s what makes it so fascinating and fulfilling for me.

Ashley Lin

My actuarial journey began at Macquarie University. Ironically, I initially aspired to study medical science and become a surgeon, inspired by Korean TV dramas during high school.

However, I quickly discovered I was better at math than biology, which led my father to suggest actuarial science—a decision I am now grateful for.

My experience spans both Hong Kong and Sydney across investment banking, actuarial consulting, life insurance and reinsurance.

I am especially thankful for the incredible professors at university, namely Shauna Ferris, Chong It Tan and David Pitt who encouraged me to explore both traditional and non-traditional actuarial fields.

In my second year of study, I spent a summer researching exotic probabilities as a vacation scholar at the Australian Mathematics and Statistics Institute.

Soon after, I made a spontaneous decision to intern full-time at AIA Group in Hong Kong while completing part-time studies. I streamlined embedded value and IFRS17 reporting processes and participated in quarterly economic capital production. I was fortunate to meet talented FIAAs who generously shared invaluable career advice.

Building on my direct insurer experience, I interned at Munich Re’s Commercial Life division, contributing to the design of a new treaty register. I then returned to Hong Kong for a summer internship at Morgan Stanley’s Institutional Equity Market Risk division, where I immersed myself in equity derivatives and Greek letters. 

After graduation, I joined Taylor Fry as a graduate, focusing on general insurance and injury schemes. The firm’s flat structure and diverse projects deepened my practical understanding of general insurance techniques.

As an actuary, I appreciate the unique privilege of solving complex problems that create meaningful impacts.

From analysing emerging risks to designing innovative solutions, I enjoy collaborating with professionals across diverse industries. I am passionate about lifelong learning and contributing to a profession that continues to evolve and make a difference.

Kai Zhi Lim

When I first entered university as an aspiring actuary, my perception of actuaries was that they combine expertise across finance, economics, mathematics and data analysis.

As a student passionate about these fields, I was naturally excited to enter a profession focused on numbers and problem-solving.

Fast forward to today and my current role at Taylor Fry has given me a fresh perspective on what being an actuary means.

While my satisfaction from solving technical problems remains, I have developed a deeper appreciation for the importance of actuarial judgement and commercial acumen.

My work over the past two years has been diverse, involving workers compensation valuations, financial and solvency projections, yield curve modelling and Appointed Actuary work. Common across all these projects is the need for actuaries’ advice on navigating a world filled with uncertainty.

Once a complex model is complete, the real challenge is effectively communicating the results and collaborating with stakeholders to drive key business decisions.

For example, how does the result impact the client? Should they raise prices to respond to adverse experience? How should this be balanced with their business plan and goal of expanding market share? Should they pay dividends or does the uncertainty necessitate a strengthening of the capital base?

Throughout this process, I have enjoyed meeting so many talented people and learning from their diverse perspectives. I have learnt to take a step back and evaluate my role in the broader business context. I am sure that I will continue to learn and refine my skills and actuarial judgement.

Karen Chan

“Thousand-piece puzzles and gingerbread baking,
Rewatching movies and dragon boat racing,
Travelling the world and embroidery stitching,
These are a few of my favourite things.”

Until a few years ago, being an actuary was definitely not on that list. I didn’t even come across the word “actuary” before it appeared as the top suggestion in my high school careers test.

Entering university, I thought surely:

being good at maths + being good at economics = a recipe for success as an actuary.

Turns out, I barely scratched the surface of what an actuary is…

I used to the think that being an actuary meant doing a lot of maths (and I wasn’t wrong). Then, I grew to understand that being an actuary means finding a way to make predictions even when there’s uncertainty.

Now, I see it more broadly that being an actuary means understanding people – the things we desire, the decisions we make and determining the outcomes that are best for society.

I enjoy being an actuary because it allows me to combine a number of things I like. I get to solve problems, think critically and creatively, gaining clarity piece by piece like a jigsaw puzzle.

I work in a team and a profession surrounded by people who have so much knowledge, wisdom and experience – and I can learn from them to refine and hone my craft. Day to day, there are times when I can focus in and tease apart the fine details and other times when I zoom out to appreciate the bigger picture.

All of this is what being an actuary means to me.

Matthew Winfred

Actuary – A profession that equips one with the skillset to tackle the world’s business problems.

Coming out of high school, I loved problem-solving and was drawn towards a career that would allow me to apply mathematics in a practical setting.

Engineering was the natural pick until a fellow classmate of mine described the work of an actuary.

Statistics, finance, collaboration (among the myriad of buzz words) – what could possibly go wrong? In a last-minute leap of faith, I picked actuarial science as my degree and never looked back.

University confronted me with the expected set of trials. Amidst this difficulty, I found intrigue in the breadth of content that was being covered.

In 2022, I began my internship in Taylor Fry’s General Insurance division, working predominantly in liability valuations. It was here that I grew to appreciate the ethical responsibility that actuaries hold as the ultimate advisers – effectively balancing the often competing interests between business and society as a whole.

In 2023, I was seeking a role with the same vein of intellectual challenge, but closer to the world of financial markets. I pivoted my career to work in Macquarie’s Group Treasury, working to optimise balance sheet outcomes across funding, liquidity and markets.

Although not a “traditional” pathway for an actuary, I found the skills I learnt throughout my journey to be surprisingly transferable.

I now work in Goldman Sachs’ Corporate Advisory unit – a testament to the reputation that the actuarial profession holds in the lens of the business community. In my current job I am challenged by the breadth of products that we offer to our clients, solving complex problems to deliver a range of effective hedging and financing solutions. I am thankful to be mentored by the thought leaders in the space, whose interests and ambitions have inspired my own.

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